Clay County public safety agencies and local organizations are teaming up with U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
These include:
- Florida National Guard Counterdrug Program
- Clay County Fire Rescue Community Paramedicine
- Clay County Sheriff's Office
- Orange Park Police Department
- Clay Action Coalition
- Community Coalition Alliance
- Project Opioid Jax
- Florida's Poison Control Center
Neighbors in Clay County can turn in unused and expired medication for safe disposal at the following three locations listed below:
- Clay County Paramedicine Office: 2710 Blanding Blvd, Suite 8, Middleburg, 32068
- Orange Park Police Department: 2025 Smith St, Orange Park, 32703
- HCA Memorial Hospital Orange Park: 2001 Kingsley Ave, Orange Park, 32703
This event aims to provide a convenient and responsible way for neighbors to dispose of prescription drugs.
The CDC estimates more than 107,000 Americans died of a drug overdose during the 12-month period from February 1, 2021 through January 30, 2022, and 67% of these overdose deaths were related to a synthetic opioid. In 2021 alone, DEA seized enough fentanyl to provide a lethal dose to every American.
Here in Florida, more than 6,150 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in 2020, according to the Florida Department of Health. Additionally, in 2021, there was an increase in fatal overdoses caused by synthetic opioids.
Properly disposing of these medications is critical to keep our community and environment safe. If someone throws these medications in the trash, others can potentially retrieve and illegally sell them. If someone flushes these medications down the toilet, they can potentially contaminate the water supply.
According to the DEA, removing unused or expired medications from the home can help prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
If neighbors in Clay County are unable to make it out to this event on Saturday, they can still drop off unused or expired pill or capsule medications year-round at Orange Park Police Department and at the Green Cove Springs Police Department, located at 1001 Idlewild Ave, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043.
